timely

1 of 2

adjective

time·​ly ˈtīm-lē How to pronounce timely (audio)
timelier; timeliest
1
: coming early or at the right time
a timely decision
timely payment
2
: appropriate or adapted to the times or the occasion
a timely book
timeliness noun

timely

2 of 2

adverb

1
: in time : opportunely
the question was not … timely raised in the state courtW. O. Douglas
2
archaic : early, soon

Examples of timely in a Sentence

Adjective Her very timely book examines the effects of global warming on the world's climates. She always responds to my requests in a timely fashion.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Spills, splatters and dirty dishes should be taken care of in a timely manner. Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 Experts say that the new report emphasizes the importance of timely ADHD diagnoses and adds important considerations for clinicians to discuss with patients who are deciding how to manage their ADHD. Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 Today in Poland, where Prime Minister Donald Tusk is trying to restore liberal democracy after eight years of populist rule, this advice seems more than timely. Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2024 Our team cares deeply about our patients and they are trained to take timely, appropriate action in the event of an emergency. Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 All three cases have highlighted longstanding concerns about the inability of international sports officials to balance the imperatives of clean sport and fair play with providing justice to deserving athletes in a timely manner. Jeré Longman, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Many winners opt for a timely message, while others resort to rattling off a list of names. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 Especially at the entry-to-mid levels in organizations, the ability to get the job done reliably, efficiently, and in a timely manner can be a differentiator, an accelerator for your career. Peter Accettura, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 This backlog impedes the timely connection of renewable energy projects and constrains businesses' ability to transition to more environmentally friendly power sources. Hudson Hollister, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'timely.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of timely was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near timely

Cite this Entry

“Timely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/timely. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

timely

adjective
time·​ly
ˈtīm-lē
timelier; timeliest
1
: coming early or at the right time
2
: especially suitable for the time
a timely book
timeliness noun

Legal Definition

timely

adjective
time·​ly
ˈtīm-lē
: falling within a prescribed or reasonable time
timely notice
timeliness noun
timely adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on timely

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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